Sorry for the delay. I just rarely get the chance to sit down in front of a damn computer anymore, and I really didnt want to after this game. The wife says that's the maddest she's ever seen me after a game, which was surprising to me, because I was sure that wasnt my worst. It was just how it went down I guess.
The hope of the 1st half, combined with the futility of the 2nd...a microcosm of the Mullen regime, no?
QB - At this point, after watching the 2nd half, I am really not sure either QB offers us a distinct advantage against a quality defense. Auburn's decent group showed us that when they wanted to stop the run, they could, and though Dak can flash some arm skills, he wasnt going to throw us out of that stall in the 2nd half. I even tweeted that it was Dak's team now after the 1st half, but a few days of reflection has me wondering if this offensive staff can truly get the most out of either of them. My guess is no, but that Dak is the one they could get lucky with. We didnt help Dak out at all in the 2nd half.
And yeah, I get that we have the benefit of hindsight, but some things seem so obvious. Why are we not throwing the ball to Malcolm more? Why arent we hitting Rojo on bubble screens? Both of those guys have good hands and break-tackle ability. In Ok. St. and Auburn, we seemed to find success with the screen game in the 1st half and totally abandon it in the second half, when we might have the best pass-catching, open-field RB in the freaking league. They were begging to be screened in the second half. The Jameon drop was huge, but again, that was a fairly long developing route across the intermediate to deep middle (15-16 yards out). That 10 yard comeback sideline route to Morrow - is that not one of the most difficult throws in football? If you go back to the 3rd quarter, we throw a seam pass to Brandon Hill instead of #6. We can't afford to run critical plays through ONLY our BEST players. Why does every school in the country ride their best players like mules to victory and we just want to make sure everyone gets some PT?
I just cant keep putting this on the players making mistakes. Every coach in the country, save maybe Bama and Stanford, have plenty of idiots playing for them. I dont think Laquan Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil have Peyton Manning's football IQ, yet they execute because the scheme puts them in a better position to do so. The "lack of composure" by the offense is on the coach.
RB - I am convinced Shumpert would have made a difference, that is pretty much it. He has IT. Not that I think it wouldve made a huge difference, the other guys put forth a nice effort. Still think we arent using Perk properly.
WR - they are getting there. Need more Ross on the field.
TE - underutilized.
OL - better, but we have to throw them a bone to truly block a play. They aren't going to blow anyone off the ball, although they do have their spurts of solid play.
DL - aGAIN, much improved from last year. Solid all the way across. Didnt see Jones at DE like was mentioned, but I couldve missed it. He is the best I have ever seen as a freshman DL at State.
LB - GOOD unit. How about Richie Brown flashing that rodeo cow-ropin' sack? Lots to like here. Still feel like Wells disappears in coverage sometimes. The Browns are pushing the 1st group hard.
CB - Cox and Jiles are liabilities at this point. Like what i'm seeing from Calhoun. Cox needs to play safety. Maybe if I say this enough it will happen.
S - Cox needs to play safety. They had a pretty good night though.
Tried not to rehash too much stuff people have said all week. I am extremely disappointed in what we are getting from Mullen, like many of you. If I had the red button in front of me, I am not sure I could push it right now, but I would have definitely flipped up the little plastic guard cover and inserted my key. I think he has some serious flaws. I dont have an issue with the run v. pass. I have said that I thought it was an adjustment issue vs. a conservative playcalling issue. But I still feel like "play calling" is the root of the problem. This is just not a highly effective offense, and despite player execution problems, I still think we didnt do much to help ourselves. The route to Morrow and the throw that was short-hopped to RoJo are symptoms of the problem: that easier plays can be called. Just like that ESPN article about Ole Miss running 25 plays out of the same formation, using the simple jet sweep option as a base, simplicity breeds execution in college offenses.
Defense played very well, just had one bad series. Collins is a keeper as far as I'm concerned. Just need to get personnel tightened up a little, especially in the secondary.
The hope of the 1st half, combined with the futility of the 2nd...a microcosm of the Mullen regime, no?
QB - At this point, after watching the 2nd half, I am really not sure either QB offers us a distinct advantage against a quality defense. Auburn's decent group showed us that when they wanted to stop the run, they could, and though Dak can flash some arm skills, he wasnt going to throw us out of that stall in the 2nd half. I even tweeted that it was Dak's team now after the 1st half, but a few days of reflection has me wondering if this offensive staff can truly get the most out of either of them. My guess is no, but that Dak is the one they could get lucky with. We didnt help Dak out at all in the 2nd half.
And yeah, I get that we have the benefit of hindsight, but some things seem so obvious. Why are we not throwing the ball to Malcolm more? Why arent we hitting Rojo on bubble screens? Both of those guys have good hands and break-tackle ability. In Ok. St. and Auburn, we seemed to find success with the screen game in the 1st half and totally abandon it in the second half, when we might have the best pass-catching, open-field RB in the freaking league. They were begging to be screened in the second half. The Jameon drop was huge, but again, that was a fairly long developing route across the intermediate to deep middle (15-16 yards out). That 10 yard comeback sideline route to Morrow - is that not one of the most difficult throws in football? If you go back to the 3rd quarter, we throw a seam pass to Brandon Hill instead of #6. We can't afford to run critical plays through ONLY our BEST players. Why does every school in the country ride their best players like mules to victory and we just want to make sure everyone gets some PT?
I just cant keep putting this on the players making mistakes. Every coach in the country, save maybe Bama and Stanford, have plenty of idiots playing for them. I dont think Laquan Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil have Peyton Manning's football IQ, yet they execute because the scheme puts them in a better position to do so. The "lack of composure" by the offense is on the coach.
RB - I am convinced Shumpert would have made a difference, that is pretty much it. He has IT. Not that I think it wouldve made a huge difference, the other guys put forth a nice effort. Still think we arent using Perk properly.
WR - they are getting there. Need more Ross on the field.
TE - underutilized.
OL - better, but we have to throw them a bone to truly block a play. They aren't going to blow anyone off the ball, although they do have their spurts of solid play.
DL - aGAIN, much improved from last year. Solid all the way across. Didnt see Jones at DE like was mentioned, but I couldve missed it. He is the best I have ever seen as a freshman DL at State.
LB - GOOD unit. How about Richie Brown flashing that rodeo cow-ropin' sack? Lots to like here. Still feel like Wells disappears in coverage sometimes. The Browns are pushing the 1st group hard.
CB - Cox and Jiles are liabilities at this point. Like what i'm seeing from Calhoun. Cox needs to play safety. Maybe if I say this enough it will happen.
S - Cox needs to play safety. They had a pretty good night though.
Tried not to rehash too much stuff people have said all week. I am extremely disappointed in what we are getting from Mullen, like many of you. If I had the red button in front of me, I am not sure I could push it right now, but I would have definitely flipped up the little plastic guard cover and inserted my key. I think he has some serious flaws. I dont have an issue with the run v. pass. I have said that I thought it was an adjustment issue vs. a conservative playcalling issue. But I still feel like "play calling" is the root of the problem. This is just not a highly effective offense, and despite player execution problems, I still think we didnt do much to help ourselves. The route to Morrow and the throw that was short-hopped to RoJo are symptoms of the problem: that easier plays can be called. Just like that ESPN article about Ole Miss running 25 plays out of the same formation, using the simple jet sweep option as a base, simplicity breeds execution in college offenses.
Defense played very well, just had one bad series. Collins is a keeper as far as I'm concerned. Just need to get personnel tightened up a little, especially in the secondary.
